Education Policy Fellowship Program

Establishing a Policy Framework

This Seminar will focus on a set of concepts and strategies for creating a policy framework. Fellows will explore both the practical and theoretical aspects of how public policy is developed and implemented. Several policy issues of current concern to Michigan citizens will also be examined.

Session A Resource Persons: Coordinators and Fellows

The Fellows will discuss the policy making process and develop a working definition of the term "policy." We will also explore some expert opinions on the topic and discuss some examples of policy making in contemporary society.

City of Lansing Mayor David C. Hollister was appointed as a Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services director in January, 2003 by Jennifer M. Granholm, the 47th Governor of the State of Michigan. Mayor Hollister received bipartisan support of the state Senate, which voted unanimously in support of his confirmation as a department director. The Senate's vote of confidence emphasized the support of Governor Granholm's request for Mayor Hollister to take the City of Lansing model to the statewide level to encourage investment, build partnerships and grow the entire state.

To help achieve this goal, CIS will soon be joining with the Michigan Department of Career Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Michigan Broadband Development Authority. By working under one umbrella in a yet-to-be named state department under Mayor Hollister's leadership, the State of Michigan will address labor, economic growth, and urban development issues more effectively and efficiently.

Mayor Hollister has dedicated his entire life to public service. He began his career as a high school teacher in the 1960s after graduating with honors from Michigan State University. His political career began during his tenure as a teacher in the Lansing Public Schools, when he was elected in 1968 as a Democratic Ingham County Commissioner, serving through 1974. He was instrumental in recruiting, organizing, and training local Democratic candidates and played a key role in moving the commission from two Democrats when he was elected, to majority Democratic control, which continues to this day.

In 1974 David Hollister launched a successful campaign for the Michigan House of Representatives, where he served until 1993. As a Democratic State Representative, Hollister quickly became recognized as one of the top ten legislators, serving on the powerful Appropriations Committee for 16 years and chairing the Appropriations Subcommittee on Social Services for over a decade. He also served on the Mental Health, Public Health, and Education Appropriations subcommittees. Hollister authored over twenty public acts (laws) in his career and played a key role in developing most major social, mental health, public health, and open government policy while in the legislature.

In 1993, Mayor Hollister ran a successful campaign for Mayor of the City of Lansing and was re-elected to his third term in a landslide victory in November 2001. As Mayor, Hollister created a vision that Lansing become a "World-Class City." To achieve this goal, he developed a three-part strategy of economic development, neighborhood improvement, and infrastructure investment.

Hollister's successes as Mayor included over $2.9 billion in investments, including building a new regional transportation center downtown, bringing minor league baseball to Lansing, and striking a partnership with the State of Michigan that includes new buildings for the Legislature, the Supreme Court, and various other departments. Regional partnerships were created with Alaiedon Township to enable Jackson National Life to locate its world headquarters in Lansing and with Meridian Township to build a new golf course and upscale housing development. One of the Mayor's most exciting successes was the commitment by General Motors to consolidate operations and build two new state-of-the-art assembly plants in Lansing - a feat achieved through the coordinated cooperation of regional governmental units, business interests, and labor unions.

Mr. Hollister has been a presenter to the Michigan EPFP Fellows for the past 21 years and he is consistently rated as one of our most popular and important policy resources. He was awarded the Institute for Educational Leadership's National Leadership Award at the 2000 Michigan EPFP Alumni Seminar.